"My Bronze Medal Will Have a Place of Honour!"

"Beforehand, I was convinced it would feel much like a regular World Cup event. I've been racing in Antholz for years, so I knew the course well. I kept asking myself: 'How different can it really be?' There seemed no reason to overthink it. Even on race day, I felt mentally well prepared. But my body clearly knew what was at stake. I woke up with an uneasy feeling and a slight migraine and could barely eat breakfast. That feeling stayed with me throughout the day. So, subconsciously, I definitely realised what an important moment it was."

"The atmosphere at the World Cup in Antholz has always been exceptional, and the Olympic competitions were no different. The fans were absolutely incredible, and I think we enjoyed the best support of all the events. As always in Antholz, it was simply fantastic to race there."

"To be honest, I surprised myself a little. I'd worked towards this moment throughout my entire sporting career and always dreamed of winning an Olympic medal. Achieving that right at the beginning of the Games gave me an incredible feeling of happiness. I was walking on air, and I have to say: a bronze medal feels pretty good!" (laughs)

"But as an athlete, you quickly switch back into competition mode. There were still more Olympic races ahead of me, so before long my mood was once again determined by how those races went."

"I don't see the medal as my achievement alone. It's also a reward for everyone who supported me along the way – my coaches, physiotherapists, technicians and, of course, my family. I'm equally grateful for the support and encouragement I've received from Robotron over the years. But to answer your question: yes, the medal will definitely have a place of honour where everyone can see it."

"Well, we actually didn't stay in the Olympic Village. Like all the biathletes, we stayed in the Antholz Valley. We shared our accommodation with the Czech team, and each nation brought two chefs who cooked for both teams. They did serve tiramisu from time to time and I'm pretty sure it was at least as good as the one everyone was talking about in the Olympic Village."

"We pretty much stayed within our own bubble. The other Olympic venues were at least an hour and a half away, so there wasn't really any opportunity to meet athletes from other sports. On top of that, our competition schedule was packed, leaving little time for excursions, so we didn't get to watch other events either. Even so, the atmosphere within our team was excellent. We gave everything right up until the final race, even though unfortunately we didn't manage to win another medal."

"Yes, luckily that wasn't a problem at all! Only the small pin connecting the ribbon to the medal had come loose, and it was easy to put it back in place. The only thing I've learned is that jumping around with the medal around your neck probably isn't the best idea – otherwise it'll end up on the ground again." (laughs)